Planter.



No. 687,736. Patented Dec. 3, l90l.

' J. H. ELWARD.

PLANTER.

(Applichtion filed mm. 17, 1895.)

(No Model.)

7 Sheets -Sheet I.

Fig.1.

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PLANTER.

(Application filed Jan. 1'7, 1895.)

(No Model.)

7 Sheds-Sheet 2.

Patented Dec. 3, I901. J. H. ELWARD.

P L A N T E B.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1895.)

7 Shaeis-Sheet 3.

(N0 Mudel.)

mill/66688;

.YHE mums PETERS co. momurno WASHINGTON, by c.

No. 687,736. Patented Dec. 3, I901.

J. H. ELWARU' PLANTEB.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1895.) V

(" m 7 Shaets-$heet 5.

I m: NORRIS mans co, morourna, wnsnmnrou, 0. cv

No. 687,736; Patented Dec. 3,!90l. J. H. ELWARD.

PLANTER.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1895.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

ww Que n 1 64;%%V zi X Patented Dec. 3, l90|.'

.1. u. ELWARD.

P L A N T E R.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1895.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Modal.)

fizz/0777579 m: NORRIS PETER$ co.. Puo'mflfnu, WASNINGTON. n. c

UNITE STATES ATENT JOHN H. ELVVARD, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

PLANTER.

SiPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,736, datedDecember 3, 1901. Application filed January 1'7, 1895. Serial No.535,254. No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELWARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters; and I dodeclare the following to be 'a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will'enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing parts of a planter embodying some ofmyimprovements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation from the right-hand side.Fig. 3 is an elevation from the lefthand side. Fig. 4 is a rearelevation. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line or a; of Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is a front view showing the adjustable wheel-skein and part ofthe axle. Fig. 7 is an inside face view of one of the wheels on theright hand in Fig. 1 detached. Fig. 8 is a face view from the outside ofthe same. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line .2 a, Fig. 7. Fig. 10is an elevation of one of the adjustable skeins detached. Figs. 11, 12,and 13 are respectively end elevations and a cross-section of the same.Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section. of the axle detached. Fig. 16 is aface view of one of the wheels on the lefthand detached. Fig. 17 is asection on the line t t of Fig. 16. Fig. 18 shows the washer for thewheel-hub. Fig. 19 is a face view of the rotary connect-y ing devicewhich joins the two left-hand ground-wheels together. Fig. 20 is asection of the same and of its bearing or support on the axle on line iof Fig. 19 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. is anothersection through Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a perspective of the drivingsprocket-wheel. Fig. 22 is a vertical section thereof and of itsbearing. Fig. 23 is a section of a sufficient part of the machine toillustrate the relations of the wheel-frame and the runner-frame. Fig.24 is a plan view of one of the check-row heads detached. Fig. 25 is asection on the line y y of Fig. 24. Fig. 26 is a side view of thecheck-row heads. Figs. 27 and 27 show the wire-detaching devices in twoof their positions. Fig. 27 is a section through the Fig. 15 is a rearviewseeder-frame. Fig. 28 is a side view of mechanism on the front orrunner framecomplete. Fig. 29 is a longitudinal section of parts of therunner mechanism. Fig. 30 is a plan View of the complete runner-frameand attachments shown in Figs. 28 and 29. Fig. 31 is a plan view of oneof the sets of seeddropping devices. Fig. 32 is a plan View of thecentral part of the runner-frame, as in Fig. 30. Fig. 33 is a section onthe line 00 00 of Fig. 32. Fig. 3% is a plan view of that end of therunner-frame to which the drilling devices are applied. Fig. 35 is asection on the line 00 00 of Fig. 3%. Fig. 36 is a section showing thesprocket-gearing on the drillingshaft. Fig. 37 is a vertical section ofthe dropping tube and valve mechanism on a larger scale.

My present improvement relates to planters, particularly of that classin which the supporting-wheels are adapted to cover the planted grain;and the object of my present improvements is to so construct such wheelsand relate them to the other parts of the machine as to permit ofvarious adjustments.

Another object of the present improvements is to provide means foractuating the planting or seed-dropping mechanism from said wheels.

With these and other ends in view my invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter pointedout and described.

In the drawings I have shown. complete a planter of one of the commonform considered as a whole, it having a wheel-frame and a runner-framein front thereof and hinged thereto; but from the description appearingbelow and from an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that anumber of the features of improvement, considered by themselves, canalso be employed in the construction of planters of any of severalwell-known forins-as, for instance, in those in which use is made of buta single frame mounted on the ground-wheels and carrying the seedingmechanism and other parts.

The wheel-frame comprises the axle Aand bars B B, extending forward fromand secured rigidly to the axle. The axle is indicated as a whole by Aand can be of either of sev- For the purpose of illustration eral forms.

I have shownthree forms in the accompanying drawings, though. otherswill suggest themselves to those acquainted with these mechanisms. Thatillustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 15, and others is formed preferably of twobars placed parallel to each other and held throughout certain portionsapartfrom each other by suitable spacing devices, as shown at a at thecenter and at a at the ends, the latter being comparatively smallspacingwashers held by bolts a By forming the axle in this wayI providecomparatively long slots or passage-ways, as at to, near the ends topermit the attachment of the wheels and their adjustment bodily out orin and axially, as will be described.

The wheels are arranged in pairs, one pair at each end of the axle, andmay be substantially duplicates throughout; but for convenience I haveindicated those on the righthand side by O O and those upon the lefthandside by C C They are all mounted in a similar way, so that each can beadjusted as desired. Each has a hub c with a relatively largebearing-apertu re 0 and a peripheral rim 0 of the desired width. Each ismounted upon a skein or support D. The lattercomprises mainly thebearing-sleeve cl, the fixed inner flange d, and the detachable outerflange or washer 61 It has a centrallysituated angular aperture d",which is of a width substantially equal to the horizontal dimensions ofthe axle, but is of a depth greater than the vertical dimensionsthereof, so that this skein or support is capable of movement verticallyrelatively to the axle and also of movementlongitudinally thereon. Thevertical movement which is desired is of an oscillatory character, andin order to furnish an axis I pass a hinge or pivot pin d through theaperture (1" on such lines that it can pass through the slot a of theaxle. Hence, as will be seen, the skein can be rocked in such a way asto throw its ends'iip or down, as desired. WVhen the parts are inposition, the hub c of the Wheel is fitted to the exterior of the sleevepart of the skein, with the flange 61 lying inside and the flange orwasher d on the outside to hold it in place. If it be desired to arrangethe wheel so thatthe transverse plane thereof (the plane transverse tothe axis) shall be inclined to the horizon and to the axle, the skein isloosened and the ends are moved up and down, respectively, until thewheel is brought into the desired planes. The skein is held by means ofa slotted clamp-plate D, whiclr is rigidly fastened to or formed withthe end part thereof and which has the slot (Z lying transverse to theslot or passage (0 and D is a bolt which passes through this slot andbetween the two parts of the axle, by which the skein can be loosened orclamped after adjustment in any desired position. As said, each wheel isadjustable in the manner above described, and it will now be seen that Iprovide for all of the arrangement of the wheels advantageous for use inany of the numerous conditions experienced in using planters. It is nowwell known that covering devices for corn and other seed are of asuperior nature when they consist of two wheels, (for each coverer,) onerunning near to the row and along one side thereof, while the other iscorrespon dingly arranged as to the other side of the row, and machineswith such pairs of wheels or coverers have been heretofore made; but, sofar as I am aware, the wheels have not been adjustable in the ways Ihave above described either bodily, separately, along the axle out andin, or axially, so as to vary the angle of inclination of the rotationplane to the horizon. In most of the earlier machines of which I haveknowledge these wheels have been mounted on spindles or supports whichwere fixed in relation to the horizontal and vertical planes. In onecase the spindles were inclined downward and capable of adjustmentaround fixed vertical pivots, but their inclination to the horizontalwas always fixed. The conditions which are to be met in using theseplanting-machines vary greatly, not only when considering thecircumstances of soil, &c., characterizing different localities, butalso when considering the changes with respect to moisture, temperature,&c., incident to any particular 10- cality. Under some conditions it isdesirable that the covering-wheels should be placed at an inclinationgreater, and sometimes that they should be placed at an angle less, thanis advantageous under others, and in some places or when plantingcertain seeds it is desirable to have the coverer substantially the sameas is provided by the ordinary single wheel, and it will be seen thatall of these requirements are met by the construction of machinepresented herein. The two wheels of each pair can be rocked to theirmiddle position and can be moved into close proximity-that is to say, sothat both will lie in rotation planes at right angles to the axle and soas to provide a substantially continuous peripheral surface in the planeof the dropping mechanism. Either wheel or either pair of wheels can beused for actuating the planting mechanism. As shown, the gearing forthis purpose is connected with and actuated by the wheels (J on theleft-hand side of the machine.

E is a sprocket-wheel mounted at a suitable place on the axle A andconnected by the chain E with the sprocket-wheel F on the shaft E, whichactuates the seed-droppers, to be described. Wheel E may be mounted inany suitable way. As shown, it is provided with a bearing at E which isadjustably fastened to the axle, it having a flange or plate 6, with abolt which can be fastened at one or another of several points.

G is an arm secured to and extending laterallyfrom the wheel E. Itengages with the wheel 0 passing between the spokes,orot-herwisearranged to engage therewith. The aper- IIC ture or passage through thewheel should be of such dimensions as to permit the wheel to be rockedinto any one of its several possible positions.

The wheels and 0 might not revolve uniformly together as the result ofunevenness of the ground surface or should clods or other projections bemet with, and hence there are times when the outer wheel C5 might rotatemore or less during the period when the inner wheel (1 is stationary. Toguard" against the stopping of the sprocket-wheelE from such causes, Iprovide a connection between the wheels 0 and O which, while permittingthem to be either or both adjusted in any of the ways above described,yet insures that neither can revolve without causing the other to movesimilarly.

H is a ring or plate mounted on a thimble or bearing H, adj ustablysecured to the axle and situated in transverse planes midway be tweenthe two wheels C and (1 It carries laterally-projecting arms h it, someextending toward and engaging with the wheel 0 and some extending towardthe wheel 0 They engage loosely with the wheels and insure that wheneither is rotating the other will also.

The framework which connects the wheelframe with the runner-frarne maybe of any preferred sort. As above said, bars B. B are shown for thispurpose, these being provided, preferably, by bending a steel bar into aU form, of which the said bars B B constitute the side parts, they beingjoined by the rear cross part B.

b b are standards or uprights secured to the axle for the purpose ofelevating the connecting-frame. The bars B B extend forward to the frontpart of the runner-frame and are hinged thereto by uprights b b.

The runner-frame consists mainly of two parallel transverse bars I I,together with a suitable number of brace-bars i. At the outer ends ofthese bars are placed the devices for openingthe furrow for carrying,feeding, and dropping the seed and for reg: ulating its escape into thefurrows, and also the check-row mechanism. Each of the sets of devicesfor the purposes just referred to may be of any desired character asconcerns these features of the invention which have been abovedescribed; but in order to have the runners or furrow-openers and theseeding mechanism variable in their positions to correspond to the abovedescribed adj ustments of the covering-wheels I attach them to theforward frame in such a way that they also can be adjusted laterally. Atj j there are apertures in the bars I 1, by which the carrying-bars J ofthese devices can be secured in any one of several positions, as will beunderstood. The runners or furrow-openers Kshould be put in properalinement with respect to the opening between the wheels.

L L indicate conventionally the seedboxes. These are to contain any ofthe well-known or any preferred form of feedingor dropping mechanism. I

F is the shaft which actuates the droppers or seed-delivering devices,it carrying the aforesaid wheel F, driven by the sprocketchain E. Themachine may be used either in such a way as to deliver the seeds one ormore at a time to a valve in the seed-tube at J, actuated by thecheck-row devices or by hand, or the check-rowers or otherintermittingly-acting mechanism can be connected to the deliveringmechanism through slides and pawls or any other well-known means, or thecheckrowers being out of action and the valves being open the shaft Fand its coacting parts can be utilized to drill continuously.

The check-row mechanism has fork-lever M, a pair of rear guide-rollers MM and front guide-rollers N N. These parts are supported on a bar orhead 0, secured to the outer ends of the frame-bars I I. The forklever Mhas its active end in the path of the wire and at the other it issecured to the rockshaft m which is connected to the dropping mechanismby a link m" or in any other preferred way, there being one or moresprings m to return these parts to their normal position, or saidrock-shaft may be arranged as illustrated in Figs. 28 to 34.

The front guide for the wire has bypreference two lower rollers N N,mounted on horizontal axes, and a vertically-arranged roller N Thelatter is carried by a sliding bar at, which is supported in a guideprovided by means of the bars 71 n, secured to the forward end of thecross-bar O. I

n is a pivoted latch or look hinged to the top of the sliding bar 41. nis a cord fastened at one end to this latch and extending to the driversseat.

n is a stop for the end of the latch, and when the latter is against itthe bar n and the roller N are held rigidly in normal posit-ion.

When the driver desires that the wire should be disengaged from themachine, he draws on the cord a which lifts up the latch M, andthereupon the slide it is instantly forced outward by the tension andgravity of the wire bearing against the roller N After he has turned themachine or whenever necessary he can again replace the wire in theobvious manner namely, by laying it upon the rollers N N and thenpushing in the roller N until the catch n drops behind the stop n r Pindicates the tongue. It is rigidly connected to the cross-bars I I andextends back therefrom to a line suitably near the axle. WVith it thereis adjustably connected a lifting mechanism which comprises the lever Qand a link Q. The lever Q is pivoted at q to one of the frame-bars B. 1Q is a ratchetsegment secured to the bar, and with it a spring-actuateddetent on the lever engages in whatever position the lever may be set.With these devices the desired angle ofinclination of the runner frameand the wheel- IIO frame can be obtained and held to provide for meetingthe different conditions experienced in the work. The runner-frame canbe adjusted forward and back relative to the wheel-frame, so as to placethe seed-delivering devices closer to or farther from the line where thewheels approach each other the nearest, as may be desired. The bars Bare provided with a series of apertures 12 to receive the hinge-bolts atthe front end, and the tongue has a series of apertures, as p, forreceiving the link-pivot at the rear.

While I have above described the more or less conventional illustrationof the seeding mechanism and runner-frame shown in Figs. 1, 2, andothers, I have in Figs. 28 to 37, inclusive, illustrated thatconstruction and arrangement of devices for dropping the seed whichI atpresent prefer. Referring to the last-said figures, it will be seen thatthe rockshaft m can be placed behind and parallel to the seederframe-bars I I, this shaft being connected to the levers of thecheck-rowers by the cranks 76 and the links 78. The rock-shaft m isconnected by cranks with the pawl-frames 60,.of which there is one foreach seeding-box L L. Each pawl-frame carries a pivot or pintle 63 forconnection with the rock-shaft and has two pawls 64 65, adapted toengage with the toothed seed-wheel 71. The pawls are held normally bysprings against the periphery of the wheel; but the one at 65 can beheld permanently out of the line of the teeth on the wheel by a pin 72,which can be so placed as to have the heel end 74 of the pawl restagainst it when the pawl is in the position shown by the dotted lines inFig. 31. At other times the pin 72 is placed in the socket or apertureat 73. To prevent the seed-wheel 71 from rotating undesirably, I use onone side the stop 86 and on the other the stop-arm 85, held bya spring84. To properly control the seed after it drops through the plate 71, Iarrange a tube 79 to receive it, the bottom of this tube being closedand opened by means of the sliding valve 70. This valve can be actuatedfrom the rock-shaft m by a crank-arm at 69 and a detachable link 75. Theseed-tube J has a passage J 3 below the valve 7 0. Near the lower end ofthis passage the bottom valve 80 is placed, and it is actuated from thevalve 70 by means of a lever 81 and link or pitman 83. The lever 81 hasa finger 81 engaging with the slide-valve 70. At 81 it has a slot inwhich the pitman 83 is pivoted, there being a stop at 81. At the lowerend the pitman or link 83 is pivoted to an arm 80*, attached to thevalve 80. There are two apertures to receive the pivot of the link. Whenin the upper aperture, the valve is adapted to vibrate to and fro. Whenplaced in the lower aperture, the valve will be held permanently open,as shown by the dotted lines at 68 in Fig. 37. When the check-rower isin opera tion, the pawl 65 is placed in its inoperative position (dottedlines, Fig. 31) and is locked under the tube 79, and therefore the seedwhich an instant afterward drops through the plate 71 is caught and helduntil the spring 66 returns the rock-shaft and pawl, at which time theplate 7 0 also moves backward,whereupon the seed in the tube 79 can dropthrough the aperture in said plate. This seed drops through the passageJ upon the valve 80, which temporarily holds it; but at the next actionof the check-row lever and just before the rock-shaft starts theseed-plate 71 said shaft again draws forward the valveplate 70 to closethe tube 79 and at the same time draws forward the lever 81, whichthrough the link 83 draws up valve-arm 80 and opens the valve 80 anddrops the seed which at the previous step fell upon it.

To insure that the valve-plate 70 shall cut off the tube 79 before thevalve at 80 is opened, there is a temporary disconnection as concernsthe lifting action of the link 83 of the lever 81 with the valve 80 andthe link 83- that is to say, the slot at 81 insures that the lever canswing through part of its path without lifting upon the link; but beforethe lever completes its swing it opens the valvel80 quickly and as itreturns quickly closes it, the arm 80 being weighted sufficiently toinsure the rapid closing of the valve.

When the machine is used for drilling, as will be described, the link isdisengaged from the valve-plate 70 and the valve is held open by havingthe book of link 83 placed in the lower aperture 82 of the valve-arm 80,the part 70 being at such time held with its aperture under the tube 79.The drilling is accomplished as follows: As described above, the chain Eengages with sprocket-wheel F on the shaft F, which in the arrangementof parts shown in Figs. 28 to 36 is substantially the same as that inFig. 1 and others, though here shown somewhatfartherforward. When thischain is in action and the shaft F is rotating, the latter impartsintermitting motion to the pawl-frames 60 through a pitman 61, which ispivoted to a crank-arm 62 on the rock-shaft m and through these movesthe pawl-frame. When drilling, both the pawls 64 and 65 are used witheach seed-plate, so that the latter makes two steps at each motion ofthe rock-shaft or each revolution of the shaft F. At this time the linksor pit men 78 of the check-row devices are thrown out of action.

To vary the speed of rotation of shaft F,

I employ a series of sprocket-wheels at F of different sizes. They aresecured to a sleeve which can be adjustably fastened by a setscrew at 89to an inner sleeve 87, having a spline at 88. The sleeve 87 is loose onthe shaft F, but is arranged to engage therewith,

its end 91 being formed with ratchet or clutch teeth, which are adaptedto engage with a pin 92, carried by the shaft, as represented in Fig.35. The sleeve is pushed by a spring 90 in a direction to cause theclutch-teeth to engage the said pin 92, and yet permits a backingratchet act-ion of the parts when this is necessary.

I have above described the essential parts of a machine of one form inorder that my improvements may be understood; but, as stated, there canbe modification in a number of respects.

By examining the drawings, Figs. 4, 9, and 17, it will be seen that theedges of the wheels, respectively, which are adjacent to the othernearest wheel overlap the hub and skein parts. They are extended in thisway sufficiently far to insure that the two wheels of each pair can beso placed in upright positions as to have them touch each other at theperipheries. When they are so placed, they furnish, practically, theequivalent of a single wheel capable of the uses of the singlecovering-wheels now used in most planters. In order to increase theseed-covering action of the wheels, I flare the rims somewhat, as shownin the drawings, the result being that they act as plows, the edge oflarger diameter first cutting into the soil and the flared peripherythen moving it inward toward the furrow; but in this respect'I wish itto be understood there can be modifications, and the rims may beparallel to the axis, if preferred.

1 herein refer repeatedly to the wheels as being inclined, meaning thatthe wheels are or are adapted to be placed in a plane other than thatwhich is at right angles to the axle, or what may be called theaxle-line across the machine. that machines may be constructed with in'-clined wheels, but which do not have throughaxles-that is, axlesextending continuously from outside to outside of the machineframe-relativelyjsh-ort axles o-r spindles, separated fromcach other,being used at each side of the machine, one for each wheel, and 1 manyof the features of improvement which I have here presented areapplicable to said machines, as well as to one having a continuous axle.

In some of the earlier machines separate spindles for-each wheel ofeachpair were used, which spindles were pivoted to a carrier lying betweenthe wheels, each spindle also carrying a slotted plate for changing theposition of the spindle. The wheels in these machines were not capableof some of the principal adjustments which I attain. With them the angleof the plane of the wheel to the horizon could not be varied, the onlyvariation possible being a change in the angle ofthe plane of the wheelto the vertical plane of the seed-dropper--t-hat is to say, the spacebetween the front part-s ofthe wheels could be widened or shortened, butthere was no vibration possible of the wheels in planes par- It is nowwell known allel to those of the axle. In my case the axle orwheel-support (which is shown as a part extending integrally orcontinuously from side to side, but may be formed of two or morewheel-supporting portions, with or without the central connecting parts)has at each end a part which supports both of the pair of companionwheels, which part is adapted to be slipped through either wheel topermit either of the described-adjustments-that is to say, thewheel-support proper carries the two companion wheels in common and canbe separated or regarded as separated from the rest of the frame whilestill supporting both wheels, whereas in the earlier machines referredto each wheel-spindle was independent of the others and detachable withbut one wheel, and the latter could not be adjusted independently of itsspindle or axle. However I do not mean that wheels cannot be mounted soas to be adjustable in my way on such individual spindles whether thelatter be themselves adjustable or not, for it will be seen that myadjustable skeins or equivalents could be employed in connection withthe earlier independent spindles and attain some of the purposes of myinvention.

What I claim is- 1. In a planter, the combination with the axle of thecarrying and covering wheel, adjustable angularly on said axle, wherebyit can be arranged to move through a vertical plane or througha plane ateither side of, and inclined to said vertical plane, substantially asset forth.

2. In a planter, the combination with the axle, and the carrying andcovering wheel angularly adjustable on said axle, of means engaging withthe axle for securing the wheel in position to move through a verticalplane at right angles to the axle or in a position in which its upperportion will be inclined inwardlyfrom said vertical plane, substantiallyas specified. V

3. In a planter, the combination with the axle, of a carrying-wheelmounted on the axle, and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally thereof,and means for securing said wheel to said axle to have its upper portionextend at any of several angles of inclination, on eitherside ofacentral vertical plane, substantially as set forth.

4. In a planter, the combination with the axle, of a two-part carryingand covering wheel mounted on the axle, each part of said wheel beingangularly adjustable on the axle across a central vertical planeindependently of the other, substantially as set forth.

5. In a planter, the combination of a runner-frame, a wheel-frame, anaxle detachably connected to said wheelframe, a two-part carrying andcovering wheel having each part mounted on said axle, and means foradjusting each part of said wheel, both above and below the axleinwardly and outwardly from a vertical position independently of theother part substantially as set forth);

-theaxle,

6. In a planter, the combination of an axle, a covering-whcel, a supportfor said wheel, fitted to the axle and means for adjusting said supportabout an axis extending transverse of the axle, substantially as setforth.

'7. In a planter, the combination of an axle, a covering-wheel, havingits peripheral surface inclined to its axis, fitted to said axle,

and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally thereof, and means interposedbetween said axle and wheel, and adapted to be adjusted vertically andto hold the wheel at either of several angles of inclination,substantially as set forth.

8. In a planter, the combination of an axle, atwo-part covering-wheelmounted on said axle, the peripheral surface of one part of said wheelbeing inclined oppositely to the peripheral surface of the other partthereof, whereby a V-shaped groove will be formed in the periphery ofthe wheel when said parts are brought together, and means for securingsaid covering-wheel to the axle in either of several inclinedposit-ions, substantially as set forth.

9. In a p1anter, the combination ofan axle, a covering-wheel consistingof two independent parts each mounted on the axle and having itsperipheral surface inclined to its axis, the peripheral surface of onepart of said wheel being inclined oppositely to the correspondingsurface of the'other part, each of said parts being adjustablelongitudinally of the axle or wheel-support, and means for adjustingeach part angularly on said axle independently of the other,substantially as set forth.

10. In a planter, the combination with an axle, of a covering-wheelhaving a central support with a passage for the axle of greater crossdimensions than the axle, and means for securing the said support andaxle together, substantially as set forth.

11. In a planter, the combination with an axle, of a covering-wheelhaving a central support or skein with a passage for the axle, thevertical dimensions of said passage being greater than the correspondingdimensions of and a lug or plate attached to the skein and adapted to beconnected with the axle, whereby the wheel can be held at any desiredangle of inclination to the axle, substantially as set forth.

12. In a planter, the combination with an axle, of a covering-wheelhaving a central support pivotally mounted on said axle, and alocking-plate, adapted to be engaged with the axle and wheel supportwhereby the Wheel can be adjusted angularly of the axle and secured inany desired position, substantially as set forth.

13. In a planter, the combination with an axle, of a covering-wheelhaving a hub loosely surrounding skein on the axle, a pivot-boltextending through the skein and the axle, and means for locking the huband axle securely together, substantially as set forth.

14. In a planter, the combination of an axle having a longitudinal slot,a, formed therein, a Wheel mounted loosely on a skein on said axle, apivot-bolt, or pin extending through the skein and slot, a, and alockplate adapted to rigidly connect the said skein and axle,substantially as set forth.

15. In a planter, the combination of an axle having a slot a, formedtherein, a skein or wheel-support looselysurrounding the axle and havinga flange at one end and a looking plate or lug at the other end, afastening-bolt extending through said plate and the slot, at, in theaxle, a wheel fitted on said skein, and a collar for holding thewheel-hub against the annular flange on the skein, substantially as setforth.

16. In a planter, the combination with a seeding mechanism, and a wheelfor actuating said mechanism, of a covering-wheel mounted on anon-rotatable axle, and means adapted to be actuated by said wheel foroperating the driving wheel of the seeding mechanism, substantially asset forth.

17. The combination with the two inclined covering-wheels, of theintermediate wheel, and means connecting it with both of thecoveringwheels for transmitting rotation from one to the other,substantially as set forth.

18. In a planter, the combination with a seeding mechanism, and adriving-wheel for actuating said mechanism, of a coveringwheel, and anarm carried by the drivingwheel of the seeding mechanism and extendinginto the path of the spokes of the covering-wheel, substantially as setforth.

19. In a planter, the combination of a wheel for actuatingthe seedingmechanism, two covering-wheels, a wheel intermediate of and adapted tobe actuated by both coveringwheels, and an arm connected with theactuating-wheel of the seeding mechanism and extending into the path ofone of the covering-wheels, substantially as set forth.

20. In a planter, the combination of an axle or wheel-support, twocovering-wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, a wheel arranged betweenand having oppositely-extending arms projecting into the paths of thespokes of both said covering-wheels, and means for actuating the seedingmechanism from one of said covering-wheels, substantially as set forth.

21. In a planter, the combination with the wheel-frame and therunner-frame, of the intermediate connecting-frame joined to thewheel-frame and pivoted to the forward part of the runner-frame, andhaving that part over the rear part of the runner-frame elevated topermit the upward swinging of said rear part of the runner-frame,substantially as set forth.

22. The combination with the rear frame, having the two pairs of wheels,one pair on each side, of the forward runner-frame ad 3' ustablyconnected to the Wheel-frame,where-= by the said runner-frame and theseeding mechanism can be bodily moved back rela tively to the pairs ofwheels, while in operative positions, substantially as set forth.

23. In a planter, the combination of the wheel-frame, the runner-frame,the uprights, b, on the runner-frame, and an intermediate frameconnected to the wheel frame and adapted to be connected at any ofseveral points in its length with the uprights, h, on the runner-frame,substantially as set forth.

24. In a planter, the combination of the wheel-frame, the runner-frame,the uprights, b, on the runner-frame, the tongue connected to therunner'frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, an intermediate framehaving its side bars connected with the wheel-frame and provided nearits forward end with a series of apertures, 12*, a bolt connected witheach upright, b on the apertures, 5 and a link having one end connectedto the said intermediate frame and its other end adj nstably connectedto the tongue, substantially as set forth.

25. A check-rower, having a wire-guide formed of the horizontal wiresupporting rollers N, the vertical wire-retaining roller N, the slidingcarrier for the vertical roller, and the lock for said slide, adapted tonormal] y prevent movement of said carrier under the strain of the wire,substantially as set forth.

26. The combination with the check-row- Wire guide of the verticalwire-retaining roller N, the sliding support for said roller, thestationary guide permitting said support to move longitudinally towardand from the wire, and the latch, substantially as set forth.

27. The combination with the check-rowwire guide of the verticalwire-retainin g roller N the sliding support for saidroller, thestationary guide permitting said support to move longitudinally towardand from the wire, and the latch, substantially as set forth.

28. In a planter, the combination of a frame having supporting-wheels,two seeding mechanisms, one at each side of the frame, comprising rotarydropping-plates or seed-wheels, reciprocating devices each carrying twopawls for operating a dropping-plate at each movement of thereciprocating device, means for locking one of the said pawls out ofaction, rotary mechanism driven from the wheels and connected with thesaid reciprocating devices, and checking devices whereby saidreciprocating devices may be operated for billing, substantially as setforth.

29. A check-rowing mechanism having a wire-guide formed by astationarily-mounted supporting-roller, a wire-retaining roller, a catchconnected with said retaining-roller and adapted to engage with astationary stop to hold the wire in position on the supporting roller,whereby when the catch is released the force of the wire willsubstantially move the retaining-roller from its operative position,substantially as set forth.

30. In a planter, the combination, with the axle, the two-partcovering-wheel, each of whose parts are adjustable toward and fromvertical planes, of the frame having all of its parts outside of thespace between the two parts of the covering-wheel, and arranged to holdthe axle in a fixed position throughout its length, substantially as setforth.

31. In a planter, the combination, of the axle extending rigidly fromend to end through all of its parts, a pair of coveringwheels, each madein two parts, and each of the parts of each covering-wheel beingadjustable bodily along the axle, and the draftframe connected to theaxle between the inner parts of the covering-wheels, substantially asset forth.

32. In a planter, the combination of the axle, the supporting-wheel atone end of the axle, the supporting-wheel at the other end of the axle,means for adj ustably connecting the wheel to the axle and varying itsposition relatively to a vertical plane, the seed-dropping mechanism,the driving-wheel for the seed-dropping mechanism on the axle, and meansfor transmitting to the driving-wheel motion from the adjustableground-wheel, substantially as set forth.

33. In a planter, the combination, with the axle extending throughoutall its parts rigidly from end to end, and lying on substantiallystraight lines, the draft-frame secured to the axle, a ground-wheelhaving its center supported by the axle, and a hub for the wheel adaptedto be rocked relatively to the axle and secured thereto in either ofseveral positionsrelative to the vertical planes, substantially as setforth.

34:. In a planter, the combination of the axle, the draft-frame securedthereto, the ground-wheel centered on the axle and the hub for. saidwheel connected to the axle by a pivot, around which it is adjustable toeither of several positions relatively to a vertical plane,substantially as set forth.

35. In a planter, the combination. of the draft frame, the non rotaryaxle secured thereto, and the ground wheel rotating around the axle andadjustable thereon to vary the inclination of its peripheral planerelative to the vertical planes transverse to the axle, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. ELWVARD.

Witnesses:

M. B. MAY, N. OURTIs LAMMOND.

